Fox News' Sean Hannity previewed a segment about former President Jimmy Carter's planned meeting with a Hamas leader by asking, "Is this what the Obama foreign policy will look like?" In fact, Sen. Barack Obama has said his willingness to meet with international adversaries "does not include Hamas."

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On the April 10 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, co-host Sean Hannity previewed a segment about former President Jimmy Carter's planned meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Meshal by asking: "Is this what the Obama foreign policy will look like when he says he wants to talk to everyone, including [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad?" Later in the show, Hannity again teased the segment by asking: "Could this be a preview of [Sen.] Barack Obama's foreign policy strategy?" During the segment, Hannity asserted: "But there's also a broader concern. Is this the kind of talk-to-everyone foreign policy that we can expect from a new Democratic administration? After all, Barack Obama says he is in favor of talking to everyone, including Syria's terrorist sponsor, the Iranians. Now, doesn't this embolden terrorists by giving them legitimacy -- the legitimacy they crave?" However, neither Hannity nor co-host Alan Colmes, nor the guests during the segment -- Ralph Reed and Pat Caddell -- noted that Obama has previously stated that his willingness to meet with international adversaries "does not include Hamas."

Reuters reported on March 3 that Obama "has said he would break with President George W. Bush's stance of declining to talk to some other international adversaries but that stance does not apply to Hamas." From the March 3 report:

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday backed the Bush administration's policy of shunning contact with the Islamic militants of Hamas in its Middle East peace diplomacy.

The Illinois senator has said he would break with President George W. Bush's stance of declining to talk to some other international adversaries but that stance does not apply to Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and is committed to the destruction of Israel.

Obama has said in the past he would be willing to meet with leaders with whom the Bush administration strongly disagrees, including Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Cuban leader Raul Castro.

Obama, hoping to win his party's nomination to face likely Republican nominee Sen. John McCain in the November presidential election, said his willingness to meet with foes "does not include Hamas."

"You can't negotiate with somebody who does not recognize the right of a country to exist so I understand why Israel doesn't meet with Hamas," Obama told reporters during a campaign stop in San Antonio, Texas.

From the April 10 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:

HANNITY: And still to come tonight, Jimmy Carter is headed to visit Hamas. Yes, Hamas. Is this what the Obama foreign policy will look like when he says he wants to talk to everyone, including Ahmadinejad? Lots more to come as Hannity & Colmes continues straight ahead.

[...]

HANNITY: In Gaza, Jimmy Carter reportedly makes plans to meet -- get this -- with Hamas. The same Jimmy Carter has been accused of anti-Semitism. Could this be a preview of Barack Obama's foreign policy strategy?

[...]

HANNITY: The Associated Press is reporting that a senior Hamas official confirmed that former president Jimmy Carter will meet with Khaled Meshal, the exiled leader of Hamas, while in Syria next week. The visit raises obvious concerns. Tensions between the U.S. and Syria remain high over Damascus support of known terrorist organization. Also, Carter isn't exactly a friend of Israel these days. He was accused of anti-Semitism last year in a book that he wrote, which led to the resignation of several members of the Carter Center's board.

But there's also a broader concern. Is this the kind of talk-to-everyone foreign policy that we can expect from a new Democratic administration? After all, Barack Obama says he is in favor of talking to everyone, including Syria's terrorist sponsor, the Iranians. Now, doesn't this embolden terrorists by giving them legitimacy -- the legitimacy they crave? Joining us now, Republican strategist Ralph Reed and former Democratic pollster Pat Caddell.

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